During World War II Richard Jones was a naval engineer who was working on a ship.One day Jones was trying to make a meter that monitored power on battleships. He started working with the tension springs, when one of them dropped to the ground. The spring kept bouncing from place to place and Jones realized that this could be a toy that children would love. Thus, the Slinky was created! Which one is the main idea? Richard Jones served in the navy in World War II. A Slinky is made from a tension spring The Slinky was invented by accident. When a spring is dropped, it bounces.